Stud handling tool



'L Q EX NOV 24 1954 LE. ROY s. DE MART 3153051 srun HANDLING Toor.

Filed Jan. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEVTR. j [f3/57o? f Je )fari lNov.24, 1964 LE ROY s. DE MART 3,158051 s'run HANDLING Toon.

Filed Jan. 9. 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent This inventionrelates to stud handling tools', and moreparticularly to mechanisms forinstaliing and removing relatively heavy studs or the like frein largepressure vessels or similar installations.

The installation and removal of studs from the lla-tiges of reactorvessels or similar apparatus of large size has presented problems, notonly because of the cumbersomeness of the studs, but their relativelydelicate threads which must not be moval.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improvedtool for handling heavy studs or the like which are to be installed orremoved from an installation such as a reactor vessel, and which permitsa large number of such studs to be handled in quick succession with aminimum of manual exertion and without danger of damage to the studthreads.

lt is another object to provide an improved stud han? locking means alsoserving as a driving connection between the stud and a power drivenmotor.

lt is also an object to provide an improved stud handling tocl havingthe above characteristics in which studs may be transported from astorage area to the power driven motor using the same adaptor meanswhich serves as a driving connection between the motor and stud, and

in which this last-mentioned means may be automatically and simplyconverted from its transporting condition to its driving condition.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away andsectioned, showing the novel stud handling tool of this inventionattached to a stud and in its driving position;

FlGURE 2 is an end elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow2 of FIGURE 1 and showing further details of the connection between thedriving motor and adaptor;

FIGURE 3 is a plan cross-sectional tiew taken along the line 3-3 cfFIGURE 1 and showing the cross-sectional configuration of the centraladaptor shaft;

FIGURE 4 is a plan cross-sectional view taken alon the line 4-4 ofFIGURE l and showing the manner damaged during installation or re-'3,158,051 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 drivable thereby, the screw having thesame thread pitch dling tool of the above nature which may be readilyattached to the stud and locked thereto, a portion of the in which theadaptor key member lits into the hexagonal stud recesses;

FlGURE 5 is a plan cross-sectiond view taken along the line 5 5 ofFIGURE 1 showing the manner in which the adaptor locking member isreceived by the slot in the lower end of the stud recess; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to the lowerportion of FIGURE 1 but showing the adaptor in its transporting positionand about to be placed in its driving position.

In general terrns, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprisesa driving motor assembly having a pa-'r of vertical guide rods adaptedto be suspended by a hand-operated hoist or other lifting apparatus, anda reversibie air motor vertically slidable on said rods. A

as that of the studs which are to be handled and being threaded in a nutcarried by the lower ends of the rods. The lower end of the screwcarries a hook-shaped member on which may be mounted an adaptor capableof use for transporting the studs to the motor and also serving as adriving connection between the motor and attached stud. l

Several adaptors may beprovided for a single motor so that one stud maybe transported while another one is being driven into its threadedaperture. Each adaptor -compf-es a central shaft carrying a lockingmember at its lower end 'and a key member slidably but non-rotatablymounted on the central shaft. Each stud has a non-circular recess withan outwardly extending groove or undercut in its lower end. Each adaptorlocking member corresponds in shape to the stud recess and receivablethereby, so that when it reaches the level of the groove a slightrotation will cause the outer portions of the locking member to bereceived by the groove. This slight rotation will also permit the key-member to slide into' the upper portion of the stud recess, adetachable retaining member being mounted on the central shaft toprevent separating movement of the key member from the locking member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the stud handling toolincludes a driving motor assembly genat 11 which has a frame generallyin erally indicated dicated at 12, this frame being of generallyvertically elongated shape. The frame includes a pair of vertical guiderods 13 and 14 rigidly connected by an upper cross member 15 and a lowercross member 16, the rods having nuts 17 threaded on their ends andshoulders 18 for securing members 15 and 16 in place. For suspendingframe 12 from a crane having a hook indicated partially at 19, or otherlifting means, a bar 21 is slidably mounted on the upper portions ofrods 13 and 14, and has an eye 22 secured thereto by means of a nut 23threaded on the downward extension 24 of the eye, this extension passingthrough central apcrturcd portions 25 and 26 of member 15 and bar 21respectively. Springs 27, 28 and 29 are mounted or. the upper portionsof rods 13 and 14 and on extension 24, these springs being disposedbetween members 15 and bar 21, so that frame 12 is rcsilientlysuspended.

An air motor 31 carried by a C-shaped frame 32 (FIGURE 2) is provided frdriving the stud handling tool. Frame 32 has upper extensions 33 and 34and lower extensions 35 and 36, extensions 33 and 35 being slidablymounted on rod 13, while extensions 34 and 36 are slidably mounted onrod 14. The frame also carries an upper member 37 and a lower member 38between which motor 31 is secured. The motor is provided with a pair ofhorizontally extending handles 39 and 41, and one of these handles mayinclude a conventional control valve for driving the motor in eitherdirection.

The output shaft 42 of motor 3l is connected to a screw 43 coaxialtherewith, this screw having a thread with the same pitch as the threadon a stes' 44 mountable in the threaded recess 45 of a reactor vesselflange 46, or similar installation. Screw 43 is threaded in a bushing 47secured to member 16 and extending through an aperture 48 thereofcoaxially with motor shaft 42.

A hook generally indicated at 49 is secured by a pin 51 to the lower endof screw 43. This hook comprises a collar 52 secured to the screw and aat plate 53 extending downwardly therefrom, a U-sheped member 54 formedfrom a tlat plate being secured to the lower end of plate 53. Bothmembers 53 and 54 have llat portions in spaced parallel relation, asscc-n in FIGURES l and 2. An adaptor retaining pin 55 is carried by achain $6 secured to Collar 52 and is insertabl'eina pair of alignedsecured to the upper end of shatt S and carries a bail assemblygenerally indicated at 61 by means of a pivot pin 62. Bail assembly 61comprises two U-shaped bails 63 and 64 positioned in fixed relation atright angles to each other and having a common pair of spaced journals65 adapted to be mounted on pin 62 on opposite sides of adaptor element59, so that the hails may be swing between the positions shown inFIGURES 1 and 6. Each bail 63 and 64 has a straight central portion,haii 63 being adapted to be received by hook 4f? wiiie bail 64 isadapted to be engaged by hook 66 carried by a portable crane (notshown).

A key member 67 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on shaft 58 belowelement 59, the interior of member 67 having a hexagcnal aperturecorresponding to the cross-sectional shape of shaft 58. The upperportion of member 67 is circular and carries :t pair of oppositelydisposed aligned handlebars. 'l'.lte lower portion 69 of member 67 is ofhexagonal shape complementary to the cross-sectional shape oi a recess71 in the upper portion of each stud 44.

A locking member 72 is xediy secured to the lower end of shaft 58. Thislocking member is also of hexagonal shape to correspond with :he shapeof stud recess 71, but is substantially thinner than the hexagonalportion 69 of key member 67. Moreover, locking member 72 is angularlydisplaced with respect tckey member portion 69 a distance of 30, as is.evident from a study of FIGURES 1 and 2. The recess 71 of each stud isprovided with a groove 73 at its lower portion, this grooveextending'outwardly a distance sutlicient to permit the outer .portionsof locking member 72 to enter the groove when the locking member isrotated after having passed downwardly through hexagonal recess 71 tothe level of the groove. A key member retaining pin 74 is sectt'fed toupper adaptor portion 59 by a chain 75 and is adapted to be received byaperture 76 passing through shaft -58 above the operative position ofkey member 67 as seen in FIGURES 't and 2. Pin 74 is provided withdetent means for holding in its inserted position, and its distance fromthe operative position of key member 67 is such as to prevent withdrawalof the key member from recess 71.

In operation, assuming that a plurality of studs 44 are stored at alocation remote from ange 46 and that it is desired to install thesestuds in threaded recesses 45 of the ange, a tirst adaptor 5'.' will beattached to a first stud 44. This may be done by withdrawing pin 74,entering locking member 72 in recess 71, and sliding the locking memberdown toward groove 73. Before loeking member 72 reaches the level ofgroove 73, the outer portions of key member section 69 will engage theupper surface 77 of stud 44, it being recalled that portion 69 andiocking member 72 are angularly misaligned. Since pin 'I4 is removed,however, further downward movement of shaft 58 and locking member 72will not be impeded, key member 67 merely sliding upwardly on shaft 58.With slight rotative pressure exerted on handles 68, the outer portionsof locking member 72 will enter groove 73 when the locking memberreaches the groove level. Toe adaptor may thus be rotated 30, at whichpoint key member portion 69 will drop into recess 7l until handles 68engage upper sind surface 77. Pin 74 may then be inserted into aperture76 and adaptor 57 willv be secured to the stud for transportationpurposes.

Bail 64 of the adaptor may then be engaged by a portable crane hook 66and the stud and adaptor carried to the location of driving motorassemby 12, the latter being supported by hook 19 with motor 31 in itsupper position. Since bail 64 is supporting the weight of the stud, bail63 wili be projecting to the lett as seen in FIG- URE 6. With pin 5Sremoved, crane henk 66 may be lowered until bail 63 enters hook 49 andpin 55 replaced, upon which further lowering of hook 66 will cause bail63 to become vertical as seen in FIGURE l. With crane hook 66 removed,hook 19 may be slowly lowered until the lower end of the stud threadengages the upper' turn of thread 4S, the spring support for frame 12aid-i ing in this engagement. Motor 31 may then be started, rotatingscrew 43 and with it hook 49, adaptor 57 and stud 44, the latter beingdriven through shaft 58 and key member 57. As screw 43 is rotated, itwill thread itself downwardly through bushing 47 at the same rate asstud 44 is fed into threaded aperture 4S. The engagement of the straightcentral portion of bail 63 'with ilat plates t 53 and 54 will preventany undesirable angular shifting between screw 43 and stud 44.

While the first stud 44 is being threaded into its recess, a second studmay be carried to the driving motor assembly by a second adaptor 57 andcrane hook 66. When the tirst stud has been fully threaded into itsrecess, hook 49 may be detached from bail 63 of the first adaptolit andengaged with bail 63 of the second adaptor. Meanlwhile, the firstadaptor may be detached from its stud by removing pin 74, lifting keymember 67 until its portion 69 clears the top of the stud, and rotatingthe adaptor.

30 so that locking member 72 may be removed from recess 7l. The firstadaptor may then be returned to the stud storage area for further use.After being detached from each adaptor, motor 31 will be returned to itsupper position in readiness for handling the next stud.

When it is desired to remove studs from Bange 46, the

above-described procedure may be reversed. In this case, motor 31 willbe placed in readiness by rotating screw 43 until the motor and itsattached parts are at the lower portions of rods 13 and 14. Hook 49 maythen be connected to an adaptor 57 previously mounted in the stud to beremoved, and removal effected by rotation of screw 43 to cause studunthreading. Hook 66 may then engage the adaptor so as to detach it fromthe driving motor and transport it to its storage area, hook 49meanwhile being returned to its lower position and connected to the nextadaptor 57.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment ol the inventiondisclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, itwill be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification,variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a tool for handling studs or the like, a tlrame, means forsuspending said frame from a hoist, said lastmentioned means includingresilient means for permitting limited vertical shifting movementbetween said hoist and frame, a vertically disposed screw threadablycarried by said frame and having the same pitch as the stud threads,means for rotating said screw, and means at the lower end of said screwfor detachably securing the upper portion of a stud thereto.

2. In a tool for handling studs or the like, a vertically extendingframe, a vertically disposed screw, means at the lower end ot said ramefor threadably supporting said screw, the screw threads having the samepitch as the threads of of said stud, a reversible power actuated motorhaving a housing and rotary shaft, the housing being slidably butnonrotatat'ly mounted on said frame above said screw and said shaftbeinfl secured at one end to said screw for rotating the screw in eitherdirection, and means carried by the lower portion of said screw fordetachably securing a stud thereto.

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3. In a device for handling heavy studs or the like, a frame comprisinga plurality of vertically extending guides, resilient supporting meansat the upper ends of said guides, a reversible power actuated motorslidably but nonrotatably mounted on said guides, a screw connected toand extending downwardly from said motor, means at the lower ends ofsaid guides for threadably supporting said screw, the screw threadshaving the same pitch as the threads of said stud, and means at thelower portion of said screw for detachably securing the upper portion ofa stud thereto. g

4. The combination as defined in claim 2, said lastmentioned meanscomprising a hook secured to the lower en d of said screw, an adaptor ofelongated shapehaving "one end adapted to be secured to one end of astud, rst

and second bails fixed to each other in transverse relation and having acommon pivotal connection with said other end of the adaptor, said firsthail being engageable with said hook when the first bail extendshorizontally whereby the adaptor may then be suspended from the motoroutput shaft and in driven relation therewith with the first bailextending vertically, said ladaptor being suspcndible by said secondbail when the second bail is in a vertier-J positioi to cause. the iirstbail to assume a horizontal position J`or engagement with said hook.

5. The combination according to claim 3, said motor comprising an airdriven motor having horizontally extending handles, a -C-shaped bracketsecured to the upper and lower ends of said motor, and extensions onsaid braclet slidably mounted on said guides.

6. In a device fer handling heavy studs or the like of the type having anon-circular central recess in the Upper portion thereof, and anundercut groove in the lower portion of said recess extending outwardlytherefrom, a frame, stud engaging means extending downwardly from saidframe, means on said frame for rotating said stud engaging means ineither ydirection and simultaneously advancing the stud engaging meansat the rate of said stud thread pitch` a locking member secured to thelower end of said stud engaging means, said locking member having thesame non-circular shape as the stud recess, a key member slidably andnon-rotatably mounted on sai stud engaging means above said lockingmember, the lo. 'er portion of said key member having the samenoncircular shape as said thread recess but being angularly shifted withrespect to said locking member, and means on said key member above saidlower key member portion engsgeable with the upper end of said stud whensaid key member portion is rotated to lit into the stud recess, wherebythe outer portion of said locking member will enter said groove.

7. The combination according to claim 6, further provided with a stopmember `rovably mounted ou said tud engaging means above said key memberand engageable thereby to limit movement of said key member away .fromsaid locking member.

8. A handling tool for a stud having a central recess of polygonalcross-sectional shape in the upper end thereof and a groove extendingradially outwardly from the lower portion of said recess, comprising avertically elongated member, means for raising and lowering` saidmember, a locking clement secured to the lower end cf said member andhaving a polygonal shape adapted to in said recess, the outer portion ofsaid element being receivable in said groove, a key member slidably andnon` rotatably mounted on said elongated member, a polygonal lowerportion of said key rncmeer adapted to be received by said recess butangularly shifted with respect to the polygonal shape of said lockingelement, and means for limiting separating movement of said lockingelement and key member.

9. The combination according to claim 8, said lastmentioned meanscomprising a cross pin detachably mounted on said elongated member andengagcable by and handle means for rotating said at the lower portion ofsaid guide means, a reversible motor slidably supported by said guidemeans and connected to said screw, a cenu'al shaft of non-circularcrosssecticnal shape extending downwardly from said screw, a locking.member of polygonal shape secured to the lower end of said shaft adaptedto be slidably received by said stud recess and having omer portionsreceivable by said groove w en said loeirng member is rotated out ofalignment with said rtud recess at the. level of said groove, a keymember having a central noncircular aperture corresponding to thenon-circular shape of said shaft and slidably but non-rotatably mountedon said shaft, the lower portion ot' said i'ey member having a polygonalshape adapted to be received by said stud recess but angulariymisaligncd with respect to the polygonal shape of said locking member, ashoulder above said lower key portion adapted to engage the upper end ofsaid stud when said lower key portion is received by said stud recess,handle means extending outwardly from said key-member, and retainingmeans mounted on said shaft and engageable by said key member to limitseparating movement of the key member and locking member.

12. ln an apparatus t'or handling studs having a prodetcrrnined threadpitch and non-circular recesses in their ppcr ends with outwardlyextending grooves in the lower recess portions, a driving motor assemblycomprising a vertically elongated frame adapted to be supported by ahoist, a vertically slidable rotary motor on said frame, a screw securedto the motor output shaft and extending downwardly therefrom, said screwhaving the sa.. e pitch as said studs, a bushing carried by the lowerend of said frame and threadably receiving said screw, a hook secured tothe lower end of said screw, an adaptor having a central shaft, firstand second angulerly disposed bails secured to cach other and having acommon pivotal conncction to the upper end csaid central adaptor shaft,one of said bails when turned to a horizontally outwardly extendingposition being adapted to be engaged with said hook, said adaptor beingsuspeudible by said other bail when the other bail is in a verticalposition whereby said one bail will extend horizontally outwardly sothat it may be engaged with seid hook, a locking member secured to thelower end of said shaft and having a noneircular shape corresponding tothe shape of said recess, a key member slidably and non-rotatablymounted on said shaft above said locking member and having a lowerportion with a non-circular shape corresponding to said recess butangularly misalgned with respect to the locking member, rn outwardyextending element secured to said hey member above it: lower portion andadapted to engage the stud top when the lower 'key member portion isreceived by 'the recess, and a removable retaining membecr mounted onsaid sbalt above said key member to limit movement of the key memberaway from the locking member.

13. In a device for handling heavy studs or the like, a frame comprisinga plurality of.' vertically extending guides, resilient supporting meansat the upper ends of scid guides, a reversible power actuated motorslidably mounted on said guides, said resilient supporting meanscomprising av horizontally extending member slidably mounted on saidguides above said motor, means for connecting a central portion of saidlast-mentioned mema screw having the same pitch as the stud threadsthreadably supported guides, resilient supporting means at the upperends of said guides, a reversible power actuated motor slidably mountedon said guides, a screw connected to and extending downwardly from saidmotor, means at lhe lower ends of said guides for threadably supportingsaid screw comprising a cross member connecting the lower ends of saidguides. a threaded bushing carried by said cross member, a stop securedto said screw below said bushing and engageabie'with the underside ofthe bushing, the screw threads having the same pitch as the threads ofsaid stud, and means at the lowcr portion of said screw for detachablysecuring the upper portion of a stud thereto.

l5. 1n an apparatus for handling studs having a predetermined thrcadpitch, a driving motor assembly having a frame supportable 1, a hoist, arotatable and vertically movable output member on said driving motorassembly having the same pitch as said studs, an adaptor of elongatedshape, means on said adaptor for detachably securing the adaptor to thelower end of said output member, means ou the lower portion of theadaptor for detachably securing the adaptor to the upper end of n stud,the upper ends of said studs being provided with uniform non-circularrecesses having annular grooves in the lower ends thereof, saidlast-mentioned means on the lower portion of the adaptor comprising alocking member secured to the lower end of the adaptor and a key membersldably mounted on the adaptor above the locking member, said lockingmember and key member each conforming to the cross-sectional shape ofsaid recess but being angularly misaligned, and withdrau-'able retainingmeans on said adaptor for limiting the separating movement of said keymember away from said locking member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,072,701 Collins Sept. 9, 1913 1,891,832 Parks Dec. 20, 1932 2,460,555Von Voigtlander Feb. 1, 1919 2,606,472 Curtis et al Aug. 12, 19522,678,576 Thompson May 18, 1954 2,851,768 Ellis Sept. 16, 1958 3,015,975Biach Jan. 9, 1962

1. IN A TOOL FOR HANDLING STUDS OR THE LIKE, A FRAME, MEANS FORSUSPENDING SAID FRAME FROM A HOIST, SAID LASTMENTIONED MEANS INCLUDINGRESILIENT MEANS FOR PERMITTING LIMITED VERTICAL SHIFTING MOVEMENTBETWEEN SAID HOIST AND FRAME, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SCREW THREADABLYCARRIED BY